Board for Home Mission Report PNW District Convention ELHS June 12-13, 2018

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1 Board for Home Mission Report PNW District Convention ELHS June 12-13, 2018 WELS Missions Promotion Team: has produced a 24-page magazine titled: Faces of Faith. Check it out. Home Missions: 2018 New Starts/Enhancements 2018 Home Mission New Starts: Reno, NV - Two area congregations are partnering to start this congregation in the Northern Valleys area of greater Reno. On March 25, the first worship service was held; 63 people attended. Phoenix, AZ - Crosswalk, Phoenix, is opening a second site to reach out into downtown Phoenix. Joplin, MO - A strong core of WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod members from the two nearest churches are helping support this mission. Brandon, SD - Near Sioux Falls, this new congregation includes core members from two WELS churches and an Evangelical Lutheran Synod congregation. Milwaukee, WI - Grace in downtown Milwaukee, one of WELS original congregations, is establishing a new location in the area known as the Third Ward Home Mission New Starts Unsubsidized Hobart, WI - Mount Olive, Suamico, WI, is starting a second site in Hobart. The congregation is calling a second pastor to begin this new ministry. Horicon, WI - Members of St. John s, Juneau, WI, see an opportunity to reach out in nearby Horicon, where 90 members of St. John s live. Saturday worship services are scheduled to begin in Horicon in June Home Mission Enhancements Crown of Life, Corona, CA - This multi-site mission currently has 4 different locations for worship. Home Mission funding will support a 3rd pastor. Faith, Anchorage, AK - A second bi-lingual pastor will allow Faith to enhance their Hispanic ministry. Grace, Seattle, WA - Two congregations will be combining to restart their ministry in the heart of Seattle. Funding will allow a full-time pastor to again serve at Grace. 1

2 Ascension, Harrisburg, PA - Remaining members of Ascension are ready to restart their congregation. They have demonstrated they are willing to take on ministry responsibilities and support outreach efforts that will be guided by their next pastor. Shepherd of the Hills, Knoxville, TN - A group of members are ready to restart their congregation after a longer-term pastoral vacancy. With the congregation back on its feet, they hope to begin a preschool ministry to jump start their outreach efforts. Trinity, Waukesha, WI - Trinity hopes to reach out to a large population of Hispanics in their community by bringing in a bilingual pastor to lead the ministry. Epiphany and First, Racine, WI - These two Racine congregations currently operate a joint Lutheran Elementary school. Home Mission funding will allow the school to call a staff minister or teacher to coordinate outreach efforts to prospective church families. Church Extension Fund Home Missions continues to be blessed through its partnership with CEF. In August of 2017 the first endowment payout was made ($840K). Planning on that payout, back in the spring of 2017, Home Missions authorized four missions and three enhancements. CEF is now operating with a base interest rate at the cost of CEF ministry + 2.5% (250 basis points). When a loan is renewed every 5 years, the rate will be at CEF s cost of ministry + 2.5%. It is the desire of the CEF Board of Directors that the interest rate will not escalate over the twenty-five-year to thirty-year life of the loan, but remain at a more stable interest rate. In going to this formula for an interest rate, this should also encourage missions which have a worship facility and have received a great blessing in land and facility grants to remain with CEF throughout the life of the loan. In past years, when CEF was not as flush with cash, after a mission would have a loan for 10 years or so, CEF would encourage missions to refinance with a local bank so CEF would have additional funds. Now, CEF desires that congregations remain with them through the life of the loan. As it relates to a new mission, their base rate will be -.25%. District Mission Board Report PNW District Convention June 2018 We share our Mission and Vision with you in order for you to better partner with us. Mission 2

3 The Pacific Northwest (PNW) District Mission Board (DMB) will, in accordance with Christ's command and by His grace, proclaim the gospel to reach the lost and the unchurched by strengthening believers, preparing and equipping God s people for mission activity work, and partnering with congregations, groups, individuals and the WELS to identify and cultivate mission work in the Pacific Northwest. Vision The Pacific Northwest (PNW) District Mission Board (DMB) will work seamlessly with PNW District congregations, groups, and individuals along with the WELS Kingdom Workers (WKW) and Synod to identify and support local mission opportunities to proclaim the Gospel while providing the means and encouragement to prepare faithful workers for these fields. DMB Business The two newest missions, The Vine, Coeur d Alene, ID and Cross of Christ, Meridian, ID held their opening services this past fall. Combined, these services attracted nearly 200 worshippers to their opening services. The Vine has outgrown its current rented worship space and is looking for a larger space. Meridian is contemplating where it is the wisest location to plant their new site permanently. They are wrestling with worshipping in an under-churched area North of Meridian or going farther West. Two more Missions in the PNW received funding this past April. Grace in Seattle, WA, and Salem in Edmonds, WA, combined their resources of manpower, offerings, and facilities to immediately restart using the Grace Seattle campus. They received $139,000 over three years from the BHM to help them. In the future they pray God blesses them also with restarting a new congregation at the current Salem Edmonds location. This campus will be leased out and the income used for the mission restart in Seattle. This new Mission Restart received Mission Enhancements funds to do this. Enhancement funds are short term (three years or less) grants from the BHM awarded to mission critical congregations that are either restarting or expanding. The other Mission in the PNW receiving new BHM support is the Hispanic Mission connected to Faith Lutheran in Anchorage, Alaska. After several years of supporting this mission on their own, they needed some help. After the health struggles of Pastor Oldfield and his passing, Faith only had one pastor serving two full time ministries. In order to get back to serving a large Hispanic population full time, they requested and received $110,000 over three years. They are calling a Pastor with bi-lingual gifts to do this. Your PNW DMB continues to receive training alongside the AZ/CA Mission Board. As part of our training we partner with a mission congregation and canvass their neighborhoods with the expectation of having a gospel focused conversation and inviting them to an event. We 3

4 canvassed with the members of Cross of Christ in Meridian, ID and River of Life in Goodyear, AZ. These canvasses were organized under Praise and Proclaim, a ministry led by Dave Malnes out of Meridian, ID. Our next service was planned for North Seattle. But, since there is a pastoral vacancy there, we are waiting until later. Instead your PNW DMB we will be serving a Mission Congregation in Reno, NV under the leadership of Praise and Proclaim Ministries. Please consider using this ministry to help your congregation with outreach strategies, including follow-up. We are willing to come to your congregation to lead a mission Sunday Worship service as you direct it. These services can be led by the Western Region Mission Counselor - Matt Vogt, or pastors on our Board: Kevin Schultz, Brian Hackmann, or myself. The laymen on our Board, August Galbert, Mel Kam, and Ted Weiss are also ready and willing to give a presentation for a special festival as well. Their contact info is at the end of this report. Peter Kruschel, our former Western Regional Mission Counselor, retired from the full-time ministry on February 28, He served the Western United States as a Mission Counselor for 11 years. He is currently serving part time as an associate pastor at his home congregation, Beautiful Savior Ev. Lutheran, Las Vegas, NV. A service of celebration for Peter's many years of service in the WELS was held on February 19, 2018 at Beautiful Savior in Las Vegas, NV. Pastor Matt Vogt accepted the call to serve as our next Western Regional Mission Counselor. He began his service April 22, His contact information is found at the end of this report. Mr. August Gabert stepped down from serving as our national Lay Representative for the Board for Home Missions. We thank him for his many years of service in that role. He continues to serve on our Regional and District Board. Mr. Mel Kam accepted the appointment to fill August's former position. We are blessed to have Mel serving and to have such a seamless transition. Outreach/Mission Partnerships Mission Journeys (Replaces TCW and FIA) Mission Journeys is a new WELS mission initiative designed to assist WELS groups, especially congregations, experience a short-term mission trip. From pre-trip to post-trip, Mission Journeys is designed to grow the team and culminates in an outreach activity run by the team for the sending group. Mission Journeys will offer domestic and international opportunities. The program will not be able to accommodate every request to send a team. Mission Journeys will take a measured approach to growth to guarantee a positive experience for the team and the host groups. 4

5 Both domestic and international opportunities will be offered, with most Mission Journeys trips lasting 7 days. This will include travel time, depending your plans. Mission Journey team make-up will vary. A match will be attempted to meet your goals. Do you need adults, college students, or high school students? Maybe it doesn t matter for your needs. Mission Journeys teams are responsible for transportation costs. Generally, the host congregations are responsible for lodging, costs for the outreach activities and follow-up. Host congregations often provide food for the team. However, each congregation has different abilities and resources so Mission Journeys will try and provide flexibility. Mission Journeys will meet your needs on a timetable. If you have exact dates already set, provide those on the form. If you want the event in July and are flexible on exact dates, write that down. With this document, you will see a list of questions that will assist you in planning to host a Mission Journeys team. Contact Mission Journeys Coordinator Shannon Bohme at JMO@wels.net. Completed applications should also be ed to JMO@wels.net SAMPLE APPLICATION 1. Name, , dates 2. Type of trip * Sports/Vacation Bible School * Outreach Event/Canvassing * Music Camp/Other 3. Ideal make-up of team * High School or College * Adult or No preference 4. Ideal team size 5. What do you envision the team doing? 6. How does the team s work fit into your congregation s ministry plan? 7. How will you evaluate success? 8. How do you plan to house the team? 9. How do you plan to feed the team? 10. Will the congregation provide supplies and materials for the team? 5

6 MLC Daylight Program What is Daylight? The MLC Daylight program matches future pastors, teachers, and staff ministers with congregations who would benefit from help in reaching out to their communities. In groups of various sizes, MLC students assist with sports camps, Vacation Bible School, neighborhood canvassing and other outreach activities. MLC students are eager to help your congregation! Starting this school year, MLC s goal is that every graduate will participate in a Daylight shortterm mission during their time at MLC. Mission of Daylight? To make and mature disciples of Jesus through short-term missions is the purpose of Daylight. The Daylight program supports MLC s mission by maturing MLC students through mission experiences that equip them to become disciples who make disciples in the public ministry. What does a Daylight experience look like? Eight Qualities of a Daylight Experience 1. Time: each experience should be around hours to be completed within the first two years of enrollment 2. Activity: Short-term mission that develops ministers of the gospel by proclaiming with word and deed the good news about Jesus. Find various examples of different types of service below. a. Evangelism proclamation, door-to-door canvassing b. Witnessing telling, ministry activities that tell (sports camps) c. Discipleship teaching (VBS), observation d. Helps labor, construction, office support, worship 3. Size: team (2-4 is ideal, larger groups can be accommodated) 4. Location: mission/ministry setting that is not the student s home church can be home or world missions. 5. Participant Demographics: MLC students 6. Sending Entity: MLC s Daylight office has administrative responsibility. Students can work with local congregations/missions directly, Kingdom Workers, Daylight, or other WELS organizations. 7. Mission Philosophy: Daylight, students, and congregation/organization partners will work together to create opportunities that develop ministers of the gospel. 8. Leadership & Training: Daylight will be responsible for pre-field preparation and post-field debriefing; on-field is a train-as-you-go model. 6

7 What are the projected costs for congregation/organization partners? Daylight costs should be covered by MLC and students. No monetary cost apart from those associated with providing lodging, meals, and if applicable, transportation while in the field. MLC will recommend and solicit opportunities for the following windows for service: 1) Fall break 2) Thanksgiving break 3) Christmas break 4) Spring break 5) Easter break 6) Summer break This is not to exclude any potential weekend mission opportunities throughout the school year. What are additional expectations of a congregation/organizational partner? 1. MLC will require a congregational team request form, with guidance from Daylight on how to create a developmentally appropriate experience. 2. Please make requests for a Daylight team as far in advance as possible. The deadline for guaranteeing requests is one-month ahead of the activity date. We will strive to honor all requests, and want to give as much advance notice if we are not able to fill a particular request. 3. Local pastor/contact will train on site for specific ministry activity. 4. Daylight strongly recommends daily devotions and debriefing. What will MLC s pre-field preparation look like? 1. Team will skype with pastor/local contact if applicable 2. Team will do small group Bible study. 3. Team will probably need some large group training on STM travels, etc. What will post-field debriefing look like? 1. Daylight will conduct debriefing with team upon return to campus. 2. Daylight will retain all debriefing surveys for records. What are Long-Term Goals for Daylight? 1. To prepare reflective mission-minded church workers and lay people. 2. To maintain a balance between expectation for student growth and kingdom-growth. God-centered short-term missions put God as the main focus. 3. Strive to build partnerships with congregations. a. Partnerships to last 3-5 years b. Annual evaluations will inform program improvement 7

8 Pacific Northwest Mission Activity under the DMB from July Our Board continues to use the BHM Strategic plan to guide and direct our activities. Our current activity under that plan follows: PNW Mission Board Activity: Enhancements A. Grace Seattle/Salem Edmonds Mission Restart 3 year Enhancement: : $60, : $44, : $35,000 B. Faith Anchorage AK: 3 year Enhancement: : $40, : $40, : $30,000 PNW Mission Board Activity: Renegotiations A. Saviour of the Nations, Vancouver, BC (Geoff Cortright, David Sigrist, Qiang Wang) July 2017-June 2018: $111,000 The staff continues to make connections with the many cultures in their community. They have met many new people using their outreach methods including ESL classes and Meetup. Qiang Wang is more than half finished with his PSI training. They have worked with several other people who have now returned to their home countries. One of their challenges is using a shared rental space. However the affordable cost makes it worth the extra efforts to remain at that location. B. Hmong Ministry, Faith, Anchorage, AK (Pastor Pao Moua) We are very thankful for Faith Anglo s help for all these years. Faith Hmong continues to receive funds from the BHM. July 2017-June 2018: $58,000. Faith Hmong continues to expand its outreach to the Hmong community in Alaska. It utilizes food, camps, outdoor recreation, and special holidays as ways 8

9 to connect to the Hmong population and to share the gospel. They continue to use Faith Anglo s sanctuary and fellowship hall on Sunday Afternoons. Recently 50+ new people from the Hmong community in Anchorage have started worshipping at Faith. Their total number of souls has now surpassed 100. We pray for God's blessings as Faith ministers to this new group. C. Korean Ministry, Holy Trinity, Des Moines, WA (Pastor Youn Park) July June 2018: $35,000 Pastor Park is very gifted in Organization and Administration. He is using those gifts to look at various outreach strategies, mainly through education. He has students in ESL, Korean School, and Sunday School. He is also involved with the PSI program. He regularly worships in the sanctuary of Holy Trinity on Sunday afternoons. He uses the old portables from ELHS for office, meeting and education space. This ministry will no longer receive annual funding from the BHM. This places the ministry in a very difficult situation. Pastor Park plans to continue to serve as a their shepherd. We hope to help fund some of their outreach activities going forward but cannot support their budget at the levels we have in the past. We are thankful for God s blessings and pray for his guidence through this challenging time. D. Peace In Jesus, Boise, ID (Pastor Dan Kramer) July 2017 Jun 2018: $75,000 (JMC) February June 2022: Friends of Vietnam $300,000 (JMC) This ministry continues to be blessed and to serve as a blessing to our Synod s world-wide Vietnamese outreach. Pastor Kramer seeks to contact every Vietnamese family in Boise, to travel to Vietnam as able, to translate materials that can be used to instruct and to proclaim the message of the Gospel in the Vietnamese Language. Peace in Jesus is also working under the Joint Mission Counsel to establish a new ministry called Friends of Vietnam (FOV). It is modeled after Friends of China. This effort is underway and they have already commissioned manpower to make this happen. We pray for God s blessings. The work of the FOV has faced some very big challenges. The original director is no longer with FOV. The Board and the plans of FOV have been revisited and 9

10 reworked so that this mission can move forward. We pray that God blesses this work. E. Light of Life, Covington, WA (Pastor Dan Lange) July 2017 June 2018: $14,000 This is the last year of funding for Light of Life. Their preschool continues to be a key driver for their outreach to their community. They have 56 children enrolled. They face the challenge of staff turnover, limited space, and funding a growing mission. May God continue to bless them. F. The Vine, Coeur d Alene, ID - A Branch of St Matthew, Spokane (Pastor Kevin Schultz) July 2017-June 2018: $128, This group has a nucleus of 10 members. Their opening worship service on October 1, 2017 had over 125 people in attendence. They continue to worship an average of 55 each week. 20 of these regulars are the launch team from St. Matthews and will be returning to Spokane in a few months. The Vine conducts regular events throughout the community in order to meet and invite as many people as possible. They continue to regularly canvass the area as well as carry out random acts of kindess to local public servants such as the police department. These activities have led many people to inquire about The Vine and attend their services. G. Meridian, ID Multi-site of Cross of Christ, Boise, ID (Pastor Ben Workentine) July June 2018: $115, Cross of Christ Meridian had their opening service on September 10th, God blessed this event with 70 in attendnece. They continue to worship with an average of 35 each week. God has blessed the work of this second site of Cross of Chirst. They wrestle with the challenge of the optimum place to permanently plant this second site. We pray for God s blessings. 10

11 PNW DMB Partnerships Unsubsidized Missions: (These missions are not currently receiving funds from the BHM. They are working with the DMB and are submitting reports so they are eligible to receive special funds to enhance their ministry.) Beautiful Savior, Hillsboro, OR They receive no financial support from the BHM, but are eligible for Special funds and for CEF grants. They can receive 4:1 grant on 10% down on any land up to 5 acres. They can also receive a 2:1 grant on 10% down on their new facility up to 7000 square feet. Caminando con Jesús/Grace Yakima, WA Grace Yakima received funding from the BHM for 3 ½ years. They are to continue to report to us and will remain an unsusidized mission for two more years in which they are eligible to receive special funds. Possible Unsubsidized Missions: (These missions choose to partner with our DMB and Home Missions. Over the course of at least one year, this mission shares its ministry plans with our DMB, works with us, and sends monthly reports to us. After a year, they can officially receive the status of an Unsubsidized Mission.) Gethsemane, Tigard, OR The PNW DMB is meeting with the leaders of Gethsemane Ev. Lutheran Church and exploring outreach strategies with them. Gethsemane will be deciding in the near future whether or not to have an official partnership with our DMB. Divine Savior, Renton, WA - Our partnership will be through the Sudanese group they host. We pray for these blessings. CEF Grants: (The CEF can now grant funds directly to the BHM which Home Missions can use without restriction toward new North American mission work. In addition to these periodical block grants, a portion of the CEF reserves act as an endowment with annually dispersed earnings to be used as income for BHM. CEF also continues to give special grants to Mission congregations that have established themselves and are ready for land and a building. These grants are matched up to 10% of the land value at a 4-1 ratio, and up to 10% of the building (5000 ft 2 ) at a 2-1 ratio. With the down payment of the 10% for land/facility and the grants, a new congregation will have 50% of the land and 30% of their building paid.) King of Kings Kennewick, WA King of Kings has purchased the land on which they will build. They have been approved to receive a 2-1 matching grant for the cost of up to 5000 square feet of their new facility. They will receive over a 11

12 $2000,000 grant. Ground Breaking is June 17, 11:30am. Their new facility will be 12,000sq ft and will borrow $2.5 million from CEF. Special Funds Received 2017/18 $107, $850 Light of Life - Covington, WA Easter Outreach March $1, Light of Life - Covington, WA Christmas Outreach December $1,500 Peace in Jesus, ID Streaming August $2,000 Peace in Jesus Boise, ID Copier - December $4,985 Peace Eagle River, AK Summer Vicar June $4,000 Cross of Christ Meridian, ID Canvass August $3,000 Cross of Christ Meridian, ID First Service August $40,000 Cross of Christ, Meridian, ID Church in a Box August $35,000 The Vine, Coeur d Alene, ID Church on Wheels - August $3,000 The Vine, Coeur d Alene, ID First Service August $11,000 The Vine, Coeur d Alene, ID Church on Wheels Truck (Returned) Campaign August $ Soccer Camp Fellowship for Parents, Cross of Christ Meridian, ID Campus - June Church Extension Fund Beautiful Savior, Beaverton, OR (This congregation is currently looking for land on which to build.) Peace in Jesus, Boise ID Cross of Christ, Boise, ID Light of Life, Covington, WA Living Hope, Redmond, WA Beautiful Savior, Everett, WA Shepherd of the Hills, Anchorage, AK King of Kings, Kennewick, WA Our CEF is willing and able to lend to self-supporting congregations. They will be competitive, so please discuss rates and long term loans with them before you dismiss them as an option. If you bring an approved loan to them from another lender, they can often beat it. This serves our Missions well when more congregations borrow from CEF as the funds go directly back into Mission funds for expanding Missions. 12

13 Over 7 million dollars in CEF money is on loan to congregations of our District. Have a question, concern, suggestion, or request? CONTACT ME Pastor Craig Wasser 510 Idylwood Dr SE Salem, OR (church), (cell) pastorwasser@gmail.com District Mission Board and Liaison Assignments Chairman Rev. Craig Wasser Immanuel, Salem, OR (office) (cell) pastorwasser@gmail.com Alaska Circuit Rev. Brian Hackmann Peace, Eagle River, AK (office) (cell) pastor@peacethroughjesus.com Sonshine & Idaho Circuits Rev. Kevin Schultz St. Matthew, Spokane, WA schultzk@san.rr.com Mission Counselor Rev. Matt Vogt Las Vegas, NV Matt.vogt@wels.net Geoduck Circuit Ted Weiss Christ the King, Bremerton, WA TedWeiss3@comcast.net Oregon Circuit August Gabert Amazing Grace, Milwaukie, OR acbgabert@gmail.com Rainier Circuit Mel Kam Faith, Tacoma, WA melkam48@juno.com 13